Tag Archives: chargers

Everything has become easier since smartphones, and that goes for traveling too. With easy access to maps, GPS, flight and train schedules, our cell phones, tablets and laptops are now an essential part of globetrotting. But almost as essential are certain mobile accessories that help make sure our wireless devices are always working in top order. The following are Pure Mobile's picks for the 5 best gadgets for travel – don't leave home without them!

1. Backup power

Your phone and tablet are pretty useless if they run out of juice. And not every country has the same type of electrical outlet, so even if you bring your phone charger, you may find yourself out of luck. Be on the safe side and travel with a backup battery pack. Backup power is also great if you're out and about sightseeing and away from an outlet for any period of time.

We recommend Scosche's goBAT II, a high capacity battery backup for iPhone and iPad, or Dexim's BluePack Battery, which works for nearly all devices, from iPhone to Android and BlackBerry.

2. A sturdy laptop bag

If you do decide to bring your laptop or notebook, it simply won't do to just cram it into your travel pack. Instead, invest in a good case or travel bag designed to fit your laptop securely, with extra room for passport, souvenirs and whatever else you may need.

For an over-the-shoulder style, we like Targus' Classic Notebook Case for sturdiness and organization. And for backpacks, Incase's Terra Campus pack offers padded protection for both your MacBook Pro and iPad, with tons of extra storage.

Incase's Terra Campus pack offers padded protection for you MacBook and iPad, as well as super organized storage for anything else

3. A good multipurpose cable

Even with a battery pack, you're going to need a good cable for charging and syncing. We like Dexim's Green Cable Universal, which, as the name suggests works for most if not all devices. Featuring EL technology which reduces power consumption, it not only allows your device to charge really quickly, but also glows while it's charging, to let you know when your battery is full. Neat-o!

4. A wallet phone or tablet case

Especially when traveling, it's nice to have all your essentials – phone, money, and cards – all in one spot. That's easy with a wallet or folio-style phone case. Griffin's Midtown Wallet is the perfect pick for the iPhone 5, with slots for cards and cash, and their Elan Passport does the same for your iPad 2.

Keep your tablet, cards and cash all in one place with Griffin's Elan Passport Case for iPad 2

5. Compact earbuds

If you've ever been on an 8-hour flight with an unhappy baby, you'll understand the need for a good set of headphones while traveling. Earbuds are more compact, and easier to cary around, so make sure you've got a good pair that can drown out unwanted noise, like Beats by Dre's urBeats, which are small and lightweight but also have a super-tough metal housing.

A new report from industry luminary ABI Research indicates that more than 50% of all unlocked cell phones will be capable of running on 4G or 3G data networks. Jake Saunders, VP of Forecasting for ABI Research suggests that . “As the festive cheer of the holiday season dies away, the mood among handset vendors remains quietly confident regarding 2012. The outlook will yield growth in the order of 8%, netting 1.67 billion handsets shipped worldwide by the end of 2012. Particularly notable is for the first time, 3G and 4G handset shipments will capture more than 50% of total handsets shipped." The consumer's appetite for high end mobile devices will also drive the after sales cell phone and tablet accessories market.

In the second half of 2011, top tier mobile device vendors unleashed marketing promotions targeting the upward mobile market audience in emerging smartphone and table markets. Samsung, used clever ads downgrading Apple users while extolling the benefits of the Galaxy S II X phones and Galaxy Tablet lines of business to make substantial inroads into these market spaces. Apple is expanding sales channels in emerging markets, with greater success in China than it’s having in India, but is also targeting South American markets such as Brazil. HTC is gaining traction in China, but developed markets such as North America and Europe continue to be the mainstay of its “ship into” markets. RIM, despite its weakness in apps-capable smartphone markets, continues to do well in messaging-centric emerging markets such as Indonesia. Nokia hopes to benefit from Windows Phone 7 Lumia series launches in India (Dec-2011) and China (in 1Q-2012).

Investors, speculators and rubberneckers alike are already speculating about Apple’s future after the recent loss of Steve Jobs. Will lines still abound upon the release of new products? Will there be the innovation? Will there be the continued customer loyalty? Will there be mobile accessories designed to protect, personalize and enhance devices.

Well, as the iPhone 4S was released in lieu of the mythical iPhone 5, customers may have been slightly let down in 2011. However, resources indicate the next generation of iPhones will be released in 2012. Will that include shiny new Apple accessories? That may remain to be seen at the upcoming mobile technology conference in February 2012. Leaving your valuable mobile devices unprotected is risky! The latest innovative protection solutions such as stylish top brand bags, sleeves and cases allow you to protect your devices from scratches and blemishes. Tough on the outside, sweet on the inside these brand name cases and skins protection accessories combine complete device coverage with sleek artistic expression.

Luckily for Apple, the release of accompanying accessories can wait until next fall when v5 of the revolutionary smartphone is slated to be released (likely to fall in line approximately one year after the iPhone Siri release with the 4S). Enhance your mobility and turn your device into a power tool! Discover select accessories, such as stylus & pens, SD Micro memory cards, batteries, speakers and glider gloves all specifically designed to make your devices functionally efficient and performance rich.

So what details of this up and coming device are churning around the rumor mill? Sounds like Apple is intending to use a plastic or rubber material (much like the materials used in the bumper case accessories currently sold independently of the mobile devices). This design falls in line with previous iPhone versions (mainly the 3GS) which had a bezel that surrounds the edges. Get powered up for work, life and play easily and conveniently with their collection of desktop chargers, wall chargers and car chargers. Get all the power and energy you need for the mobile lifestyle.

This serves two purposes – joining the glass of the iPhone front to the aluminum back plate (no need for the above antenna large plastic inserts on some Apple “I” products).

At the moment, some sources report that the next generation iPhone will rock an aluminum case (comparable to that found on the iPad 2). This newest devices should also include a larger display of approximately four inches. This is in line with the latest smartphone trends towards bigger and better screen displays. Thankfully for those of us who use our technology to feed into larger screens, there are HDMI and other cables available to use smartphones and media devices to stream a plethora of media.

Keep posted as 2012 brings more details on Apple’s new leadership and upcoming products!

After the constant buzz around Carrier IQ and its prolific data collecting software... which is purported to be a service that collects information from the customer handsets of certain mobile carriers, the company has finally decided to pipe up amid what is shaping up to be an escalating scandal. They have released a detailed report regarding its stealth app software in an effort to protect themselves by outlining what they do and why they do it. Accessories are designed to protect, personalize and enhance your mobile devices. Discover innovative protective solutions and premium electronic accessories from the industry's most leading brands

According to Carrier IQ, the Android log files that sparked this controversy did contain unencrypted personal information. However, following that admission the company stated that those were cases that should not normally occur. So why did it? Some mobile device handsets come preloaded with Carrier IQ which causes messages to debug from the pre-production manufacturer software. In other words, the transmittance of unencrypted data is the by-product of faulty software – not an intentional action of data stealing and reporting to carriers. For current Android customers, there are apps to seek out the cloaked software. For those prospective customers, who want security against this type of big brother monitoring need to explore the freedom offered by unlocked cell phones - break free from service provider long term contracts; choose your preferred service providers and negotiate a service packages that meet your individual lifestyle needs.

As it stands, the company has recognized that there is a flaw in the software that needs to be addressed. At the moment, Carrier IQ is collaborating with mobile device manufacturers and carriers alike to roll out a comprehensive fix that will protect customer and data privacy. End goal is to cease the debugging messages entirely as soon as a smartphone has been activated. Leaving your valuable mobile devices unprotected is risky! Protect your devices from scratches and blemishes with our stylish top brand bags, sleeves and cases. Tough on the outside, sweet on the inside our brand name protection accessories combine complete device coverage with sleek artistic expression.

Beyond unencrypted log files, greater cause for concern was the accusation of Carrier IQ recording SMS transactions. They are deflecting blame to one up to another bug in the app that results in recorded messages under vague “unique circumstances.” The circumstances that were mentioned included receipt of an SMS while in the middle of a call or data session. Not quite an uncommon or unique occurrence. Thankfully the SMS messages relayed back to Carrier IQ are encrypted for a higher degree of data privacy. Enhance your mobility... turn your device into a power tool. Discover the select accessories such, stylus & pens, batteries, microSD memory cards, chargers, glider gloves and other premium electronic gadgets specifically designed to make your devices functionally efficient and performance rich.

While an exact timeline hasn’t been announced, there was a promise made that the issue would be handled and fixed quickly.

And, for those most affected, the 19 page report is available to the public in PDF form. Please see previous blog entries for additional details regarding unlocked cell phones and for a partial list of carriers involved.

Free smartphone? Yes, please! A recent tweet posted by a Microsoft employee, Ben Rudolph, stated that any Android phone owner whose phone is infected with malware can get a chance to win a free, new, Windows Phone. Best news is that the lucky recipients of Microsoft’s benevolence will have the extra funds to dress up their new mobile device with top of the line decorative skins and protective cases.

A simple tweet with the unfortunate consumer’s story under the hashtag (#) windowsphone will get the process started. To sweeten the pot, Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) recently released smartphones are powerful and a solid bet and for the cost savings, the little extra bits of memory and phone enhancing goodies are a great option too. Leaving your valuable mobile devices unprotected is risky! Discover the innovative protection solutions which allow you to protect your devices from scratches and blemishes with our stylish top brand bags, sleeves and cases. Tough on the outside, sweet on the inside brand name protection accessories combine complete device coverage with sleek artistic expression.

So what was the impetus for a Windows Phone promotion? Supposedly it is linked to the recent reported that there are more than 100 applications in the Google Android Market that have been infected with malware. Because of Google’s open source approach to applications, these malware attacks are certain to be more commonplace than in applications designed for iOS. The flip side is that Android users have many more devices, carriers, and plans to choose from with the higher number of unlocked phones available. Security software companies are beginning to treat smartphones as additional computers that also require antivirus protection, so Android customers can proactively seek protection. Enhance your mobility.... turn your device into a power tool. Discover select accessories, such as, stylus & pens, SD memory cards, data cables, chargers, batteries and other premium electronic accessories specifically designed to make your devices functionally efficient and performance rich.

The phone promotion may be a generous offer from the smartphone manufacturer, but there may be ulterior motives. Earlier this week, WinRumor posted a story highlighting a security flaw that would reboot any Windows Phone device via text message. After the reboot, the messaging client on the device is then non-functioning and completely useless. Let trend setting fashionable accessories express your unique style! Our extensive array of award-wining design protective cases and skins deliver modern style, stunning design and smart protection. Make your mobile devices stand out. Customize your look - how cool can you be?

There has not been a response from Microsoft yet regarding the WinRumors Monday nor given additional details on how this particular security flaw works. The video below may give you a better idea though.

When the sun never set on the British Empire, prisoners were being shipped to Australia as prison labor. Ship captains were paid by the government to transport these offenders – paid by the number of prisoners on the ship when leaving Great Britain. The result? Overcrowding, malnutrition, and death.

The government needed this free labor to tame the harsh continent, so how did they change the behavior of the ship captains? They changed the incentive. When ship captains were compensated based on the number of prisoners who arrived in Australia alive, conditions improved almost immediately and the labor source was preserved.

Apply this concept to application developers in the 21st century and the continued popularity of iOS with those developers becomes a lot clearer. When reviewing the number of mobile devices activated every day (550,000 Android OS vs. Apple iOS’s 450,000), logical math should lead developers to Google Android for increased consumer traffic, and in turn, revenue. Much to Google chairman Eric Schmidt’s chagrin (although he is in denial), app developers continue to create their applications with iOS in mind. Discover the innovative protection solutions which allow you to protect your devices from scratches and blemishes with our stylish top brand bags, sleeves and cases. Tough on the outside, sweet on the inside brand name protection accessories combine complete device coverage with sleek artistic expression.

Why? The money is with Apple devices. And Apple’s device accessories are more uniform and easier to develop for as well. When Flurry Analytics was reviewing analysis between the two platforms, the comparisons were sharp. Samples of in-app purchase data (those apps with more than a million daily active users that are available to both iOS and Android users) showed that the Google Android applications produced a mere 24% of revenue compared to Apple. Enhance your mobility.... turn your device into a power tool. Discover select accessories, such as, stylus & pens, SD memory cards, data cables, chargers, batteries and other premium electronic accessories specifically designed to make your devices functionally efficient and performance rich.
But before jumping off the Android App Train, keep a few things in mind. Flurry didn’t release the details on what sample size was or other details of the analytical measures. Also, it was only in-app purchases tracked – not paid downloads. So while not conclusive, these numbers to point to potential motivation behind developer projects… And with iOS representing three-quarters of new projects started in the past six months, Google is figuratively still receiving a lot more dead prisoners. If they can change the motivation for developers, Android users will have the best of both worlds: unlocked phones, top of the line apps, and a powerful OS in their smartphone. Let trend setting fashionable accessories express your unique style! Our extensive array of award-wining design protective cases and skins deliver modern style, stunning design and smart protection. Make your mobile devices stand out. Customize your look - how cool can you be?

Not to editorialize or personalize the matter too much, but this writer has to give points to Nokia’s Niels Munksgaard for his recent statement this Tuesday. As the company’s global director of portfolio, product marketing & sales stated, “What we see is that youth are pretty much fed up with iPhones. Everyone has the iPhone,” Munksgaard said. “Also, many are not happy with the complexity of Android and the lack of security. So we do increasing see that the youth that wants to be on the cutting edge and try something new are turning to the Windows phone platform.” Leaving your valuable mobile devices unprotected is risky! Protect your devices from scratches and blemishes with our stylish top brand bags, sleeves and cases accessories.

With experience in the antivirus, security sector... where strangely company policy dictated a move from BlackBerry to either an Samsung or an iPhone device, and also as a professional woman who has little patience with overly complex technologies, this statement seriously resonates. It also is on par with my company’s global mobile security expert. Nokia is potentially the Goldilocks option.

Any professional not immersed in creative fields with their attention buried in their Macbook, is familiar with Windows. Pair a familiar OS with a user firendly smartphone and there is a happy medium in a welcome user friendly interface, a warm familiarity, and - for the me-centric generation I belong to – a unique smartphone that I can further accessorize to let the world know what I stand for sans Facebook status update. Enhance your mobility... turn your device into a power tool. Discover select accessories, such as, stylus and pens, memory cards, data cables, chargersand other fun gadgets specifically designed to make your devices functionally efficient and performance rich.

Having been a user of BlackBerrry (RIM OS), an Android (don’t even ask me the device manufacturer), and now an iPhone, I have long wondered if there was something between the two extremes. According the Munksgaard, Nokia is taking a different path as its competitors essentially recycle one another’s products. “The marketplace is extremely crowded. I refer to it as the sea of sameness,” the Nokia executive said. “When you walk up to a retail shelf at Phones4U and see the number of black mono-blocks sitting on the shelf, it is very confusing to the consumer. We want to deliver services and phones that are different.” Conversely, it is the fashion and personalization through protective accessories (and shared accounts with other Apple devices acquired post iPhone) that will make a transition challenging.

To date, the Finnish mobile device manufacturer has released two Windows phones: unnder the the Nokia Lumia banner and all indicators point to another smartphone unveiling at the Consumer Electronics Show in the appropriately glitzy Las Vegas next month.

Any guy or gal on the dating scene will emphasize the importance of first impressions. Let's be honest, shopping around for our tech toys and gadgets is a lot like a first date. Good lines? Nice feel? Good fit? Dressed to impress with personality enhancing mobile accessories?

So when checking out the latest Motorola tablets, the DROID XYBOARD 8.2 - it quickly caught our attention and is worth the classic “pros” and “cons” list. In tablet-speak, the physical dimensions are nearing ideal at 8.2 inches. What should have been a beautiful fit in portrait orientation, Motorola made the decision to push a landscape orientation. This strange preferential treatment of landscape is also clear in the Motorola XOOM as well. When hand held,it is a more uncomfortable silhouette to handle than the portrait. Choice of protective case may make a difference in comfort level, but that is a matter of personal preference for consumers. Protect your tablets with the latest innovative fashion design protective bags, sleeves and cases collection.

But, when held in portrait the black bezel is almost too narrow for comfort. Where is the Goldilocks medium? Luckily, the svelte, light size of the tablet negates usage fatigue in the end-user. In fact, the tapered edges, thin body, and overall lightness really make this tablet incredibly attractive. Enhance your mobility... turn your device into a power tool. Discover select accessories specifically designed to make your devices functionally efficient and performance rich.

As any fashionista, this writer will own up to wanting to see equally attractive protective covers, cases, and the like to dress up this tablet. For the home, would like to see other accessories, such as , stylus & pens, docks, chargers, data cables, earpieces & headsets that integrate this kind of purchase into day to day living.

What’s more, the price point for this beauty is enticing at about $249). Agreements with Verizon are available for greater discounts on the device, but as always, look into carrier options and contracts as the long term cost seriously outweighs the upfront additional costs on the device.

Worthy of a second date? Likely. Do your homework and be comforted in the fact that the tablet market is ever growing and not nearly as exclusive / tied to carriers, so your choices are varied!

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are typically two of the biggest shopping days of the year, and as consumers continue to use mobile devices more frequently to make online purchases, 2011 is shaping up to be huge for online shopping. A new study from ad network InMobi found that an estimated 60 million people will use a mobile device for online bargain-hunting this coming Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and 21 million of them will make purchases on their devices and associated mobile accessories.

Typical deals are shoppers looking for

A new survey found that Black Friday bargain hunters will be on the lookout for tablets more so than any other mobile device next Friday. Among those polled, 32% said they would be hunting for a Black Friday deal on a tablet and tablet accessories this holiday season. 25% of respondents said they would scout for deals on HDTVs, 24% said they would be looking for deals on laptops and laptop accessories with the remaining 19% plan to hunt for deals on smartphones and cell phone accessories this Black Friday.

Holiday Gift Wishes

When asked about the one gadget respondents would most like to receive as a gift this holiday season, tablets and tablet accessories dominated yet again. Apple’s iPad and Amazon’s Kindle Fire were tied atop the list, each having been named by 10% of those surveyed. Smartphones and related cell phone accessories filled the No.2 spot with 9%, HDTVs were mentioned by 8% of respondents and laptops and digital cameras were tied with 6%. Only 4% of those polled said that an Amazon Kindle eReader was their ideal gift.